Hershey’s Lancaster Caramel Soft Cremes

Milton S. Hershey is one of great entrepreneur stories of the 20th century. Hershey always wanted to be a confectioner. He was apprenticed to a candy maker as a child and then later tried several times to make it on his own. He focused on caramels and small wrapped sweets, peddling them on a cart pushed around the streets. While working in Denver for another confectioner, he learned a new recipe for boiled sweets, a caramel that was extremely stable as well as delicious because of the use of milk in addition to butter. However, even in Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City ... each of these companies failed. In 1886 he returned home, in debt but still convinced that his new caramel recipe he learned in Denver could succeed. He convinced family members to invest once again and this time was the right time. He created the Lancaster Caramel Company which flourished.

He built this little enterprise into a full factory business by the turn of century, employing over 1,300 people and then sold it off for a million dollars in order to fund his new venture, the Hershey Chocolate Company. Hershey’s is finally introducing their own line of caramels, under the nostalgic name of Lancaster.

The new Lancaster Caramel Soft Cremes’ package looks nostalgic. What’s inside, though, is unlikely to be anything close to what Milton Hershey used to make in copper kettles. The package says “His [Milton Hershey] original caramel recipe is the inspiration for Lancaster Cremes. The ingredients tell the story of a modern confection:

Though I was a little disappointed to see the use of things like palm kernel oil, tocopherols and high fructose corn sweetener, I was more disappointed at the price for such things. Kraft Caramels are usually about $2 a bag on sale and contain similar ingredients but not the premium price. But, I was willing to give these a try.

The little nuggets are glossy and soft. They don’t smell like much, but have a beautifully soft and chewy bite. The chew and dissolve is impossibly smooth and rich, with good flavor notes of caramelized sugar and butter. It’s like a soft version of Pearson’s Nips. (I could imagine these as fantastic in coffee flavor.) It’s not a completely stiff caramel chew, like a Storck Chocolate Riesen, but much smoother than the soft bite of a Kraft Caramel.

As much as I wanted to hate these for their divergence from Hershey’s original simple ingredients, they are quite good. The texture, the consistency and overall not-too-sweet profile is really ideal. I begrudgingly love them. They come in two other varieties: Vanilla and Caramel and Vanilla and Raspberry. Honestly, I plan to quit while I’m ahead. If they come up with chocolate or coffee flavored ones, I’ll give those a go.

Oddly enough, the Lancaster Caramels are made in Canada, not Central Pennsylvania. Also, they’re not Kosher and there are no other notations on the package regarding nuts, wheat or eggs though the ingredients list dairy and soy as ingredients.

I’m not sure what you’re asking. Could it? Sure, they can make them in China for the Chinese marketplace. Generally, Hershey’s makes their American confections in North America, either in the US, Canada or Mexico. I don’t foresee Hershey’s making their candy in China and importing it to the US ... but never say never.

I was looking forward to these, but was didn’t find them very special.

One of the best caramels I’ve tried is L. Frances Caramels. They’re a little expensive (3 for $1), but they use better ingredients. You might find a display of them at the checkout of CVS or Walgreen’s pharmacies.

I was really disappointed by the Lancaster Caramels. First the price was excessive, and they were not any better than any other commercially produced caramel. I much prefer the Werther’s soft caramels, See’s caramels, and the chocolate covered caramels from Trader Joes! For the price they charge they can afford to use a lot more than 2% butter. What about just Sugar, Butter, and cream! Love the blog. mg

I don’t expect these will be around in 125 years. We did not like the taste at all. I offered a few to my mother. She tried one, raspberry I think, and complained that she could not get rid of the after taste and gave the others back to me. The soft texture is nice but that is the only good thing that I can say about either the vanilla (with little true vanilla taste) or the raspberry creme. Sorry I wasted my money.

Yummy!
I don’t remember what bag count I am on now since my first purchase of these yummy, soft, chewy creations.
The cashier @ the Grocery Store remarked how good they were!
They are!
I like to eat them alternating with a bite of a good apple.
I have not tried the other flavors, the perfectly sweet, slightly salty Soft Creme Caramels are my favorites.

8 oz. of delicious Caramels to a bag…perfect for that Caramel craving.

FEATURED NEWS ITEMS

Candyology 101 - Episode 18 - Japanese Candy
In this episode we give an overview to three exceptional candies unique to Japan: Glico Pocky, Kasugai Gummy and Morinaga HiCHEW. This is just an introduction to Japanese candy, so we’ll be talking more about other candies in future episodes. (more)